By the beginning of November 1994, the trial proposed by echo
regulars Dan Ceppa and Preston Simpson moved out of the discussion
stage and into the beginnings of implementation and action.

With Coridon Henshaw offering to serve as judge for the case,
Judith Bandsma volunteering to serve as chief prosecutor alongside
Preston, and - after several calls for religious participants to
serve as defense went unheeded - Robert Curry volunteering to serve
in that capacity, the trial was about to get underway.

Although this was to be a jury trial, the first idea was to
have a jury of "peers" chosen from various pantheons of gods,
goddesses and assorted deities to decide the guilt or innocence
of the god being charged, namely, "God, aka Yahweh, aka Jehovah."

That idea was scrapped in favor of having the jury pool consist
of regular and semi-regular HolySmoke echo participants.

A work-around that would minimize biases, or at least balance
them somewhat, was chosen whereby the jury would be composed of six
people whom the prosecution and defense found least objectionable
from lists proposed by the each side alternately. See the following
post entitled "Jury Synopsis" for a history of that process.

The person posting as Dr. James Robertson was summoned as a
witness for the prosecution. (28 Nov 94 16:20)

Matt Giwer motioned the court to recognize that legal interests
of his client are intrinsically involved in this case: "I would
move, on behalf of His Infernal Majesty, that no article of indictment
reflect upon the character or reputation of my client. Amicus Curiae
brief on his behalf will be submitted upon request." (17 Dec 94 17:45)